Honda's Del Sol was based on the globally-popular Civic hatchback but featured a sportier design, lighter curb weight, and targa roof. Honda introduced the model in 1992 and in the US it was sold until 1997, with sales ending in other markets a year later. In that time, the brand managed to shift over 70,000 units globally. Today they're a surprisingly affordable used option, with examples available from about $5,000.
It's fair to say that most current owners love their cars. But, at the time of release, some buyers had problems with build quality, an unusual issue considering Honda's mostly bulletproof reliability record. Still, for its price today, it's hard to find a car that's more fun to drive and easy to live with. It's a '90s classic that offers more than meets the eye, so let's dive deeper into the history of the Honda.
10 Safe For A Sports Car
Honda has a reputation for sensibility built into their models, so it's no surprise that the Del Sol was one of the safer sports cars on the market at the time. As of 1994, US models received dual SRS airbags as standard, a feature that wasn't even available on some regular cars yet.
The car also had a number of driver convenience features like cruise control and power side mirrors. The modern driver may take these for granted but in 1992 features like this were relatively unusual for a small, affordable sports car.
9 Honda Of The Sun
The name Del Sol quite literally translates from Spanish as, "of the Sun". That means the full title of this car is the Honda Of The Sun. It was given that title in reference to its removable roof, which allowed drivers to turn their car into a drop-top with a few clicks.
It wasn't known as the Del Sol in all markets though, as in some places it was marketed as the CR-X. In the US, the car was originally launched as the Civic Del Sol as it was based on the Civic's platform. But, they removed the Civic name in 1995 to better differentiate the little sports car from the regular hatchback.
8 JDM Versions Got More Features
As is often the case with foreign manufacturers, there were some features that other markets got that never made their way to the US. One such feature was the limited-slip differential, designed to increase the amount of power the Honda could put down on the tarmac.
The other feature only available in Japan and Europe was traction control. It means that US Del Sols not only had fewer options available but were considerably less grippy to drive than their well-specced Japanese counterparts.
7 High Critical Acclaim
When the car was first released in 1992, it was met domestically with a critical response better than any car Honda had put out in years. One particularly effusive reviewer in Japan even called it the most important sports car the country had seen for a decade.
Outside of Japan response was slightly more muted, with American reviewers praising its fun handling and lightweight feel but criticizing the inconsistent build quality. Generally owners today love their cars, with most online reviews full of praise for their machines.
6 Samba Green Only
Honda offered an unusual option for the Del Sol, but it was only available for one color. Buyers of the car in Samba Green could opt for wheels that were color-matched to the car's paintwork.
It's arguably not the best-looking feature today, as it's a dated and slightly tacky addition. Nevertheless, for buyers looking for something a bit quirky, it's one of the only sports cars of the era to offer this option.
5 Low Fuel? What Low Fuel?
Most drivers of modern cars don't think twice about their low fuel lights, but as classic motoring fans know, it's not a feature that became standard until relatively recently. The Del Sol didn't feature one when it first went on sale.
It meant drivers just had to keep a close eye on their gauge to ensure they didn't run out of gas. Honda eventually added a low fuel warning system in 1995, three years after the car first went on sale.
4 1997 Models Are Rarest
By 1996, persistent build quality issues with the Del Sol began to outweigh the potential for fun that it offered, and sales declined. There were rumors that the car would be axed in '96, but Honda decided to keep production running for another year.
US production ended in 1997 but that year Honda had sold just 5,603 examples globally, which means finding a late-model car today is increasingly difficult. For those who can find one, they're the best option as they have all of the additional convenience features. They also make use of the incremental handling improvements Honda made during the car's life.
3 A Common Engine
Unlike many sports cars, the Del Sol didn't source its engine from a different manufacturer or use a uniquely-developed unit. Most Del Sols were sold with Honda's D-series inline-four engine, which was used in the regular Civic and first-generation Integra.
It meant that maintenance of the engine was considerably easier than most sports cars. Most mechanics could work on a Honda Civic engine, which meant the Del Sol didn't need to be taken to a specialist, potentially saving owners thousands.
2 Early Models Were Leaky
One of the main build quality issues with the sports Honda was its targa roof. The very feature that made it unique was also the main source of headaches with the car, as it was notoriously very leaky.
It was so leaky in fact that for the 1995 model year Honda completely redesigned the seals around the roof to try and prevent the problem from happening. It was semi-successful, with owners reporting the issue less often, but the company never managed to completely fix the problem.
1 The TransTop Roof
Automatic folding hard-top roofs are something many modern buyers might associate with high-end German convertibles or even Ferraris. But, in Europe and Japan, the humble Del Sol was sold with this option.
At the push of a button, two arms emerge which can be locked to the roof. Those arms then pull the roof down into the trunk of the car automatically. Unfortunately, US cars didn't get this option standard. But, the good news is that Japanese Del Sols can now be legally imported to America under the 25-year rule.